When that thought hit, that was when she knew.
Despite Kate’s warnings, despite Cecelia’s better judgment, she realized that she could get into trouble with someone like him.
And I would probably like it, she thought.
ELEVEN
True to his word, when Cecelia saw the silver moon begin to form in the dark, inky sky of the northern lands, Rixavox made her bundle up in two layers of furs and then led her out to the hovercraft they’d spent most of the day in.
His touch lingered on her waist after he guided her up and when he gestured for her to stand in front of him, at the controls, just like they’d done on the journey over, she did.She felt his strong, solid chest at her back and even through the warm layers of furs, she felt her nipples peak under her tunic.
“Do you need more warmth?” he asked softly, his breath caressing the outer shell of her ear.She swallowed when goosebumps spread over her arms and down the back of her neck.
I’ll take all the warmth you want to give me, her dirty mind whispered.
“Yes,” she replied immediately, slightly breathless, but then realized she’d said it out loud.Her cheeks flushed and she said, “I mean, no.No, I’m warm enough.Thank you.”
Now I feel a little too warm, she couldn’t help but think.
Rixavox was so close to her.She could feel the long, muscled length of his body behind her and it made her feel…feminine, protected.She’d never truly felt that way before.She’d had a few boyfriends, most of them before her diagnosis.But even then, she hadn’t felt anything more for them than friendly affection.They’d been nice boys, shy and kind.None had ever made her feel out of control or the aching kind of madness she’d read about in her romance novels late at night.Was a slightly bad boy all that much to ask?One that knew what he wanted and didn’t feel shy asking for it?Or taking it even?One that was as attracted to her as she was to him?
She let out a small sigh.The man of her fantasies probably didn’t exist.Regardless, Cecelia had never loved any of her boyfriends.In fact, she’d never experienced romantic love.Even familial love she’d struggled with.
“How far away do we have to travel?” Cecelia questioned, to avoid going downthatpath in her mind.She thought of her parents often, but right now, she didn’t wish to.
The hum of the hovercraft met her ears with familiarity as they hovered off the wide patio in front of Rixavox’s home.Or dwelling, as he’d called it.It was even darker outside now and she couldn’t make out much detail beyond the low stone wall that ran along the patio.She thought that she saw a looming, jagged mountain range in the distance.Unlike the Golden City, which had been terraced and layered into the mountain, Rixavox’s outpost seemed to be sprawled across the land, protected by the mountains behind the small city.
“Not far,” he replied, lifting an arm to point at the mountain she’d been eyeing.His bare bicep brushed her cheek and she resisted the urge to press her face into it like a horny weirdo.“We are going there.Are you ready?”
“Yes,” she whispered, trying to get her body under control.
His arms tightened around her as they suddenly vaulted up in the sky and Cecelia held her breath to avoid shrieking as wind whipped her hair in a million different directions.Up and up they went with Rixavox braced behind her, pressing her body into place.When he leveled the hovercraft out, she released her breath in a rush, feeling her heart thundering in her chest.She swore her knees shook a little.
She said, “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”
“That is because you have not done it enough,” Rixavox said.She swore she heard a teasing note in there too.“You will like it soon.It is freeing, is it not?”
“Freeing,” she repeated softly, shaking her head.“You’re an adrenaline junkie, aren’t you?”
“I do not know what that is, but I like how you say the words,” he purred.
Cecelia’s mouth parted and she felt her clit throb a bit.She nibbled on her bottom lip, abusing it as a distraction.Whenever he purred like that, she got aroused.And if she was aroused, that meant he would know.She could only hope that the wind and the layers of fur blankets would keep him from scenting her.
“You’re just a big flirt, aren’t you?” she asked, glancing at him over her shoulder.
“A big flirt?” he grunted out, his fingers moving over a lever on the far side of the control panel.“What is a flirt?”
“Never mind,” she murmured, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly.
He paused and craned his neck down slightly.One of his horns brushed her temple when he said, “Now you must tell me.I will warn you…I am relentless when I want something.”
Cecelia squeezed her thighs together.Oh yes, she could easily picture him beingrelentless, indeed.
It felt good to smile.“A flirt is someone who teases others,” she tried to explain.She added, “Usually the opposite sex.”
He huffed next to her ear and she felt his chest vibrate with his purr.“For what purpose?”
“Um,” she started and then blushed.“Well, because you like them, I suppose.”
